SSUSD Board candidates face off in Rep. Women forum

Three of the four candidates running for the Sierra Sands Unified School District Board of Education faced off Friday in a Ridgecrest Republican Women Federated forum.

By John V. Cianijciani@ridgecrestca.com

Three of the four candidates running for the Sierra Sands Unified School District Board of Education faced off Friday in a Ridgecrest Republican Women Federated forum.Incumbents Bill Farris, Tim Johnson and Mike Scott are running for re-election for two open seats because the board voted earlier this year to reduce the size of the board. Challenger Randy Jenkins was not present.Following their opening statements, the candidates fielded questions.The candidates were asked what they felt was the biggest problem or obstacle facing the school district.All three said funding.“Over the past four years, the state has decreased funding for the school district,” Scott said. “It’s going to continue if some of these propositions don’t pass Nov. 6. If Prop. 30 doesn’t pass, we’re anticipating another $2.2 million cut to our budget.”Johnson said a $2 million cut is substantial and will affect teachers and staff.“A serious problem in California is the funding model,” Farris said. “Because of the way schools are funded in California, it’s inconsistent and inadequate. We have to find a different funding model that is consistent and adequate.”He said most of the tax money comes from sales tax and income tax. “There’s significant fluctuations,” he said. “We have to design a model that has a more consistent funding level so we can know we’re not going to have these highs and lows. That discussion is happening at the state level.”The next question dealt with federal involvement in education and whether it was a help or a hindrance.“The decisions that affect our children are best made locally,” Farris said. “The federal government was never supposed to be in the education business. If the federal government wants to flow dollars to local communities, that’s great, but let’s let the local communities and the elected boards make the decisions on how those dollars can best be spent for their unique communities. That’s why we have local boards.”Johnson said he totally agrees with local control.“When the federal government gets involved, there’s always strings and stipulations,” he said.Scott said there is a common thread among the candidates on the issue.The candidates were asked what they felt was the role of the school board.Johnson said the board’s role is to give the vision and direction for the district.“I think the board has done a great job of doing that,” he said. “The mission of the board is to make sure every student in the district has the same opportunities for a good education. As a school board, we’ve done that.”Scott said budgeting is also one of the board’s main jobs as well as hiring the superintendent and getting the right people in place.“(By) getting local people who have a vested interest in our community and our schools, really does us a great service to our schools,” said Scott. “We’re a unique community. We’re small-town America, and it’s nice having local people in place.”Farris said the board’s function is to establish policy and provide oversight so students get the best educational opportunities possible.“I think this school board has done a very fine job of that,” he said. “I think it’s demonstrated by what we have available to our kids. We talked about how much reduction there has been in funding and resources. At the same time, this district has continued to improve what we’re offering our kids. Every year there are more programs. We should take our hats off to the staff, the teachers and administrators, because they’re doubling up on duties, working with fewer resources, and providing more services.”The candidates were asked how they see moving forward with their goals for the district.“There are two areas that I feel I contribute in the strongest way,” said Farris. “First of all, I have a very strong focus on team building. As a board member, you are powerless. As a board, you are powerful. We work well as a team.”He said the second area is being in Sacramento to lobby and working on committees to influence the discussions.“I’ve developed a network of contacts so I can be at the table, and I will continue to do that,” he said.Johnson said being the son of an educator and being the husband of an educator gives him a unique view from the educator’s side. “Not everyone has a spouse who is a teacher or has been a teacher,” he said. “Being a commander in the Navy Reserve for 31 years, I bring in 350 military children on base and make sure their educational needs are being met and make sure their education experience here is worthwhile.”Scott said he has been a union member with the Ridgecrest Police Department and the Kern County Sheriff’s Office for approximately 30 years.“I’ve been on the negotiation team as a union member, and for the past 16 years, I’ve been sitting here on the opposite of the fence,” he said. “I see both sides when it comes to union issues. I feel that I bring that experience to the table.”He said he also sees what happens when things go bad and when students do not graduate from high school and wind up in the criminal justice system.“I’m in that unique position that automatically forms that partnership with the schools,” Scott said. “I know what we have in the community. I would love to have drug-free and violence-free schools. We’re never going to have drug-free or violence-free schools, but we can put things in place to make them as safe as possible.”